On the 70th Anniversary...
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Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of
Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of
The Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the World are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year, 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Supreme Allied Commander
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Seventy years ago this morning, June 6th, 1944, the Allied Forces landed in Normandy, France... to begin the liberation of France from Nazi Germany, and to try to facilitate the end of WWII in Europe.
Most models that the Allied planners ran on the invasion indicated mortality rates as high as 90%... Eisenhower had already written his letter of resignation from his role as Supreme Allied Commander, because there was no assurance that the invasion would succeed.
May God Bless...
